Vehicle-axle



E. PECKHAM.

VEHICLE AXLB.

No. 352,658. 'i

Patented Nov. 16, 1886..

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EDGAR PEOKI-IAM, OF SYRACUSE, NEW YORK, ASSIGNOR TO THE NATIONAL TUBE W'ORKS COMPANY, OF BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS.

VEHICLE-AXLE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 352.658, dated November 16, IS'G.

Application tiled March 31. 1886.

To all whom, it may concern:

Be it known that I, EDGAR PncxHAM, of Syracuse, in the county of Onondaga, in the State of New York, have invented new and useful Improvements in Vehicle-Axles, of which the following, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, is a full, clear, and exact description.

This invention relates to vehicle axles formed of metal tubing; and it consists, iirst, in an improved construction of the spindle of the axle; secondly, in an improved construe tion of the journal-box specially adapted for a self-lubricating axle; and, thirdly, in a novel construction of the spindle-collar and axle-bed formed in one piece and shrunk on the axle, all as hereinafter more fully described, and specifically set forth in the claims.

In the annexed drawings, Figure l is a top view of my improved vehicle-axle. Fig. 2 is an enlarged top View of one end of said axle. Fig. 3 is a vertical longitudinal section of one end of the axle. Figs. 4 and 5 are transverse sections, respectively, on lines x x and 1f y; Figs. 2 and 3; and Fig. Gis a longitudinal section of one end of the tubular axle tapered externally.

Similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts.

A represents the main or central portion of the axles,.and A A the spindles thereof, on which the wheels are mounted. This axle, with its spindles, I form in one piece from the metal tubing, and re-enforce the same by inside linings or bushings, c a, which extend from the outer extremities of the spindles to some distance beyond the inner ends of the spindles, as illustrated in Fig. 3 of the drawings.

Each of the spindles, together with its bushing, I compress circumferentially from the outer end part way back toward the inner end, as shown at b, and thus form at the intermediate portion of the spindle a circumferential offset, c, which may be utilized as a secondary shoulder for the wheel by forming the axial bearing of the box B witha corresponding offset, 0. The offset c also serves to lock the bushing c in itsy position, so as to effectually prevent its outward movement from the axle.

Serial No. 107.357. (No model.)

At the outer extremity of the spindle'A, I further circumferentially compress the axle with its inclosed bushing a to form a nipple, a, which I screw-thread externally for the reception ofthe wheel-retaining nut d. Thelining in the nipple compensates for the weakening incident to the cutting .of the thread on said nipple, and imparts ample rigidity to the nipple, while the compression forms another circumferential offset, which further guards against the movement of the bushing c outward from the axle, and at the same time forms, a dam, e, for retaining` oil in the cavity ofthe spindle, which latter is made to serve as a reservoirfor lubricant by closing the inner end of the bushing back of the spindle, as shown at f in Fig. 3 of the drawings.

The lubricant is introduced through the contracted mouth in the nipple n, and is permitted to liow to the axial bearing of thejournal-box B by channels h lL, which are extended through the bottom of the spindle and inclined rearwardly, as shown in Fig. 5 of the drawings. Said disposition of the lubricant-chan.- nels causes the lubricant to be drawn from said channels during the rotation of the wheel when in its forward movement and obviat'es the dau ger of clogging said channels. The `journalbox B, I provide internally with circumferential grooves z' i, which communicate with the channels h h and serve` to distribute the lubricant over the axial bearing. y

In cases where the self-lubricating feature of the axle is not wanted the bushing a may consist of a solid piece of metal formed with the circumferential oset and with a circumferentially reduced outer end portion, and

the tube compressed around the said bushing. Vhen it is desired to have the spindle A tapering, I rst compress the outer end portion of'the spindles, as hereinbefore stated. The compression may be effected by any suitable press and dies or swages in the manner ICO with a suitable cutting-tool or by forcing the spindle endwise into a rotary hollow millingtool, or by any other suitable and well-known means. It will be observed that by this processof tapering a spindle formed of a cylindrical tube I obtain a smoothly-iinished exterior on the spindle without unduly cutting away the metal and impairing its stability. An axle-spindle thus formed has its interior composed of two cylindrical portions, the outer of which is of a smaller diameter than the inner portiomand is joined therewith bya circumferential offset; hence such a spindle may be also utilized as a lubricant-reservoir for lubricating the exterior of the spindle by providing it with lubrieating-channels, as indicated by dotted lines in Fig. 6 of the drawings.

C denotes the usual spindlecollar, which is secured to the axle at the inner end ofthespin- Vdle to serve as an abutment for the wheel'hub.

Back of this collar is the axle-bed D,designed either for the attachment and support ot' the longitudinal springs, which are usually employed on heavy trucks, or for the attachment of a bolster, as may be desired. This axle-bed D must therefore be provided with aA iiat seat on its top and be firmly secured to the axle; and in order to accomplish the latter in a simple and effective mannerI form said axlebed integral or in one piece with the collar C and secure them on the axle, preferably by heat-ing, and thus expanding them, and While in this Condition slipping them onto the axle and into their requisite position,and then cooling and thus shrinking them` on the axle.

Since it'is essential to have the interior of the, parts CD oftrue circular form and smooth it often becomes necessary to turn or ream out the aforesaid parts, and in order to savetime, labor, and wear of tools I formthe interior of the combined parts C D with a recess, r, leaving comparatively narrow circumferential bearings tt at the ends, as shown in Fig. 3 of the-drawings; and by providing said paris with additional recesses, s s s s, at the corners I save unnecessary weight of metal.

the axle-bed D has to be placed some distance In case from the collar C, I make the former of a separate piece andshrink it on the axle, as hereinbefore described.

Having described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. Atubularmetallicaxlehavingitsspindles compressed circumferentially from the outer ends part way the length of the spindles, substantially as described and shown.

2. Atubular metallic axle re-enforced by a lining or bushing in the spindle, and theouter end portion of said spindle and its lining compressed circumferentially, substantially as set forth.

3. A tubular metallic axle provided internally with a dam back of the spindle, and having rearwardly-inclined lubricatingchannels through the bottom of the spindle, substautially as described and shown.

4. In combination with the axle provided in the spindle with a lubricant-reservoir and with luhricatingchannel through its bottom. the journal-box provided with circumferential grooves communicating with the aforesaid channels, substantially as described and shown.

5. A tubular metallic axlehaving the outer ends of its spindles compressed circumferentially, and screw-threaded externally for the reception of the wheel-retaining nut, `and bushings on the interior ot' the spindles extending through the aforesaid compressed ends thereof, substantially as described and shown.

6. AV tubular metallic axle having itsspindles tapered externally and formed internally with cylindrical portions, the outer of which is of a smaller diameter than the inner portion andjoined therewith by a circumferem tial offset, substantially as described and shown.

In testimony whereof Ihavehereunto signed my name and ai'lixed my seal, in the presence of two attesting witnesses, this 19th day of March, 1886.

EDGAR PECKHAM. [L s] Witnesses:

FREDERICK H. Giens, C. BENDIXoN. 

